Singles Classic kicks off bowling tournaments

The North Jersey Singles Classic at Parkway Lanes in Elmwood Park serves as something of an alarm to local bowlers, who are approaching the important part of the season. The Bergen County girls tournament takes place next week. The Bergen boys tournament is Jan. 22, with the Passaic boys and girls tournaments on the same date.

This is the time for bowlers to make their name.

The North Jersey Singles Classic makes them earn it. It’s a tournament in the truest sense of the word, with bowlers changing lanes after every game so they can’t get accustomed to one pair. Tournament organizer Mike LoPresti, the women’s bowling coach at FDU, also makes sure the bowlers are introduced to the fans, which gives it the feel of an event.

"It gives me the opportunity to extend the excitement that we experience at the college level every week all year long," LoPresti said. "The camaraderie and electricity that these kinds of competitions bring and the crowd brings is great. You get more of an athletic feel. It feels like other sports feel."

The format is fairly simple. There will be an estimated 115 boys and 65 girls in the fields. The top 40 boys and 24 girls will advance to the afternoon session. After that, it will be a single-round elimination. The one caveat is that the top-scoring boy will get two byes to the semifinals. Those who finish second, third and fourth will get a bye to the quarterfinals.

The top-scoring girl also will get a bye to the semifinals, with the second- and third-place finishers getting a bye to the quarterfinals.

"You have to get hot and stay hot," LoPresti said. "If you bowl a poor game, you’re done."